Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the recommendation in the report by Citizen's Advice entitled Close to Home, published in June 2023, on the potential merits of introducing a national framework to support local authorities to develop local area energy plans.

The Government acknowledges that local-level energy planning can help bring together key stakeholders – including local authorities and network operators – to explore routes to decarbonisation in local areas. It is, however, important to be clear on the value of local-level energy planning before taking decisions on how better to coordinate delivery.

Officials will consider the recommendations set out in Citizens Advice’s report as they do other external publications on the subject.